Closure for collapsible tubes



Nov. 8, 1966 s. WONSO CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed April 28, 1965 I N VEN TOR. Sian/ey Wonso BY [bio/w v AT TORN EYS United States Patent l 3,283,965 CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Stanley Wonso, 9M0 S. Crawford Ave., Oak Lawn, Ill. Filed Apr. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 451,437 14 Claims. (Cl. 222-519) The present invention relates to an improved closure for collapsible tubes and more particularly to a closure cap and neck assembly for a collapsible tube in which the closure is normally captive on the tube but allows for the emergence of the contents to be dispensed from within the tube.

Collapsible tubes formed of lead, tin, aluminum or plastic or combinations of these materials are in common usage today for dispensing a variety of materials such as toothpaste, shaving cream, hair lotion, hand cream, etc. One problem in the use of these tubes is that the cap or closure for the tube is separate therefrom and therefore may be easily dropped, misplaced and many times lost causing inconvenience to user of the material being dispensed. The present invention provides an improved cap and threaded neck for a collapsible tube Where the cap or closure is captive on the tube and normally is not completely removed therefrom.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a closure for a collapsible tube where the cap of the closure is normally captive on the tube. The cap and threaded neck on the tube include cooperating members which allow limited reciprocation of the cap to and from the neck of the closure. The cap and neck are in threaded engagement to seal the tube in one position and the cap is released and spaced from the tube by a central depending projection in the second position with the material to be dispensed-emerging through a suitable passage in the projection.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a closure for a collapsible tube having a cooperating cap and threaded neck on the tube formed of suitable plastic materials. The internally threaded cap includes a centrally positioned longitudinally depending cylindrical projection or plunger which is slidably received within the neck of the tube and includes an axially extending slot formed in one side and terminating short of the ends of the plunger. The slot allows emergence or discharge of a requisite amount of the material to be dispensed when the cap is released and moved to the open position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a captive closure for a collapsible tube having a threaded neck secured to the top of the collapsible tube; the threaded neck including a cylindrical sleeve depending into the tube of material and slotted on diametrically opposed sides for cooperation and communication with the slot in the depending projection or plunger on the cap. The depending sleeve includes a lug on the interior surface thereof which is received and cooperates with one of two opposed notches formed adjacent the lower end of the projection to form a stop and limit outward movement of the projection and cap from the tube and thus render the cap a captive closure.

The present invention further comprehends the provi- 3,283,955 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 the sleeve on the threaded neck back into the tube without having pressure forcing material out of the top of the slot in the projection to the cap. Thus, there is no excess material or product tail exuding from the slot in the depending projection during closure of the cap and the threaded neck and interior of the cap remain clean and sanitary.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a closure assembly Where the lug on the interior surface of the depending sleeve in the tube is utilized as a guide for the cap and its depending projection during reciprocation of the cap. The lug is positioned to extend into the elongated longitudinal slot in the depending projection on the cap and guides reciprocal movement of the cap.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a closure assembly where the slot in the depending projection is aligned with a suitable mark or indicator on the top or neck of the collapsible tube to align the slot in the projection with the lug in the sleeve, and the cap is rotated to align the slot with one of two opposed marks spaced from the first mentioned mark to align the slot with one of the two diametrically opposed slots in the depending sleeve to permit dispensing of the material from the tube.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, etficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of FIG. 2, and showing in plan the top of the collapsible tube.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the tube and captive closure of the present invention in open position.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the cap and depending plunger of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of the lower end of the plunger or projection showing one of the opposed notches.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view showing the threaded neck of one embodiment of closure, the view being taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 with the cap and plunger removed.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional View through the threaded neck of a second embodiment of closure for a ditferent type of collapsible tube with the cap and plunger omit-ted.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but with the plunger rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional View of a commercial screw cap and collapsible tube with a depending projection secured to the cap and an adapter sleeve mounted in the threaded neck of the tube.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the plunger to be used with the commercially available screw cap of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view of another commercial form of collapsible tube with the adapter sleeve positioned in the threaded neck.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view of the adapter sleeve utilized in the commercially available collapsible tubes.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein is shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a collapsible tube 10 formed of a relatively soft metal or alloy having a generally conical top surface 11 terminating in a central threaded neck 12 for a cap or cover 13. The'tube is filled with a paste, medicant or other material to be dispensed and the lower end of the tube (not shown) is suitably sealed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present invention the cap 13 is captive on the tube unless the user specifically wishes to remove the cap. Thus, the user cannot accidentally or unintentionally drop or lose the cap while using the tube.

The tube 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 generally formed of aluminum, has a top surface 11 which terminates in a centrally located upwardly extending annular flange 14 having external vertical serrations or knurling. The threaded neck 12 is generally formed of a suitable flexible plastic material and includes a body portion 15 having a tapered exterior surface 16 with external threads 17 which cooperate with the internally threaded cap 13. The surface 16 terminates at its upper end in a shoulder 18 defining an annular sealing flange 19.

The body 15 contains an annular recess conformably receiving the knurled flange 14; the body seating upon and engaging the top surface 11 outside of the flange 14 as at 21 and, interiorly of the flange 14, extending downwardly within the tube in a generally cylindrical portion or sleeve 22. A longitudinal passage 23 extends through the cylindrical portion 22, body portion 15 and annular sealing flange 19 to communicate between the interior and exterior of the tube.

The body portion 15 and the depending cylindrical portion 22 can be molded separate from the tube 10 but is preferably directly molded onto the tube in a suitable mold. Such a mold would require one mold portion defining the exterior surface of the threaded neck 12, a second mold portion Within the tube to define the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion 22 and a mandrel defining the passage 23. The knurling on the flange 14 prevents relative movement between the tube and formed neck 12 under applied rotational force.

The depending cylindrical portion 22 includes a pair of arcuate shoulders 24 which are formed on the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion 22 and positioned and contoured to conform to and engage the interior surface of the top 11 of the tube to prevent longitudinal removal of the threaded neck 12 from the tube 10. The cylindrical portion 22 also includes a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 25 which open at the lower open end of the cylindrical portion and extend upwardly into the area adjacent the annular flange 14. Also, a camming projection 26 (FIG. 7) is provided on the interior surface of the passage 23 90 from the slots 25 just below the exterior shoulders 24. The projection has a lower surface 27 (FIG. 5) perpendicular to the surface of the passage and an inclined surface 28 extending upward and inward merging into the cylindrical wall.

The cap or closure 13 includes a truncated conical cap member 29 having an internal recess 31 with internal threads 32 cooperating with the threads 17 on the neck 12, and a reduced annular recess 33 to receive the sealing lip or flange 19 on the upper end of the neck 12. A shoulder between the recess 31 and the recess 33 cooperates with the shoulder 18 on the threaded neck to aid in sealing the tube. The cap also has an integral depending plunger or projection 34 having a beveled lower end 35 and a longitudinal elongated slot 36 opening at one side of the plunger. The slot 36 is substantially the same width as the opposed slots in the depending portion 22 and terminates short of the beveled end 35 and also terminates at its other end at a point spaced from the cap member 29.

A pair of diametrically opposed recesses 37 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 8 and 10) are formed 90 removed from the open side of the slot 36 and are complementary to and adapted to cooperate with the projection 26. Also, the slot 36 is of a width to receive the projection 26 therein (FIG. 8). In the embodiment of the invention shown on FIGS. 1 to 5, the threaded neck 12 is formed of a relatively flexible plastic material while the cap 13 is formed of a relatively rigid plastic material to enhance the sealing qualities of the closure.

Considering the operation of the closure, the threaded neck 12 is molded onto and around the knurled flange 14 of the collapsible tube in a suitable mold with a mandrel forming the passage 23 and the opposed slots 25. The slots 25 extend upward to a point opposite the flange 14 so that the mandrel will contact the interior surface of flange 14 to aid in aligning the collap sible tube relative to the molded neck. The cap is molded in a separate operation, and the projection or plunger 34 is inserted in the threaded neck 12 so that the threads 17 and 32 engage to seal the closure. The depending portion 22 of the neck will flex outwardly to allow movement of the plunger 34 past the camming projection 26; the slots 25 providing flexibility of the cylindrical portion or sleeve.

To open the tube, the cap 13 is twisted to disengage the threads and the cap member 29 is pulled upward until the upper end of the slot 36 is visible above the flange 19. The outer surface of the end 11 of the tube is shown with diametrically opposed marks, such as the plus signs (FIG. 1) aligned with the slots 25 in the cylindrical portion 22, and the cap is rotated until the slot 36 is positioned opposite one of these two marks. Then the cap is pulled outward until the camming projection 26 enfurther movement of the cap. When the user squeezes the tube, the contents or material therein is forced into the opposed slots 25 and from one slot into the aligned slot 36 in the plunger 34, up through the slot and dispensed from the exposed portion of the slot 36 above the flange 19.

When the tube is to be closed, the cap is turned until the slot 36 is opposite the minus mark (FIG. 1); the minus mark being from either plus mark and aligned above the camming projection 26. This rotation of the cap positions the camming projection 26 within the slot 36 to guide the cap in retracting the plunger into the tube (FIG. 8). When the cap is lowered to the point where the threads 17 and 32 engage, the camming projection 26 has ridden out of and is above the upper end of the slot 36 thus allowing uninterrupted rotation of the cap to engage the threads.

As the lower end of the plunger is solid, it forms a piston pushing the material to be dispensed remaining in the cylindrical portion downward and out of the cylindrical portion 22 without creating any back pressure on the material within the slot 36 so that no material leaks or oozes out of the slot 36 to provide a product tail as the cap is being closed; thus providing a clean threaded connection at all times. If the user does not wish to utilize the metering function of the slot 36, when the cap is being withdrawn the exposed slot 36 is turned to a position facing opposite to the minus sign. As shown in FIG. 7, the projection 26 would be ca-mrned onto the outer surface 38 of the plunger 34 in a position where it will not engage either recess 37 or the slot 36 and the plunger can be fully withdrawn from the tube 10. After use, the plunger is easily reinserted into the neck in any position as the projection 26 is cammed away from interference with the plunger.

In FIG. 6, is shown another embodiment of the present invention utilized with another form 'of collapsible tube 10 normally formed of lead or tin or an alloy thereof. In this form, the tube 10 is produced with a closed upper surface 11 and the plastic neck 39 is formed separately. When the neck 39 is positioned on the surface 11 a plunger cuts out the opening 41 and suitable members roll and form the material of the top surface 11 around the lower flange 43 of the neck 39 as shown at 42 for interlocking engagement.

The neck 39 includes the radial flange 43 having an outer knurled surface to form an interlock with the metal tube to prevent relative rotation therebetween, and the rolled portion at 42 prevents the neck from being longitudinally removed from the tube. The neck 39 also has a tapered side wall 44 extending upward from the flange 43 and provided with threads 45, the side wall terminating in shoulder 46 and annular sealing flange 47. The depending cylindrical portion 48 of the neck 39 is substantially identical with that shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 including opposed elongated slots 49 and the lug or projection 51. The wall of the cylindrical portion 48 is slightly tapered as shown in FIG. 6 to provide ease of molding the threaded neck.

Also, the neck is recessed at 52 between the side wall 44 and the tapered cylindrical portion 48 and the slots 49 extend upward to approximately the upper end of recess 52. The plastic utilized tor the neck 39 is a relatively rigid plastic material, and the neck receives an identical cap 13 to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the cap 13 and depending plunger 34 formed of a relatively flexible plastic material. This embodiment of closure operates in an identical manner to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5.

It is contemplated that presently available commercial collapsible tubes and cap can be readily adapted to the present invention through the addition of suitable sleeves and plungers. FIG. 9 discloses a commercially available internally threaded screw cap 53 and collapsible tube 58 with a threaded neck 62. This cap is converted for use in the present invention through the addition of a plunger 54 (FIGS. 9 and having an enlarged head 55 that snaps into and is frictionally retained within a recess 56 in the cap 53. The plunger 54 is identical with the plunger 34 shown in FIG. 3 including the elongated slot 57 and the solid lower end with the opposed notches 37 and beveled lower end 35.

FIG. 9 also discloses the conventional commercially produced tube 58 having an annular ku-rned flange 59 with an undercut shoulder 61, and a threaded neck 62 formed of a suitable flexible plastic material is molded onto the flange 59 and shoulder 61. An elongated cy'lindrical sleeve 63 formed of a plastic material similar to the threaded neck 62 is inserted into the neck and retained therein through a tight frictional fit. The sleeve includes a radially outwardly extending flange 64 abutting the upper edge of the neck 62 and opposed slots 65 extending to the lower open end. The lug or projection 66 is integrally formed on the interior surface of the sleeve. This sleeve 63 cooperates with the cap 53 and plunger 54 in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 11 discloses a second embodiment of a commercially available tube 67 having a rolled edge 68 to secure the tube to the lower knurled flange of the threaded neck 69. A cylindrical sleeve 71 (FIGS. 11 and 12) identical to that shown in FIG. 9 is adapted to be inserted in the neck 69; the sleeve including a radially outwardly extending flange 72 abutting the upper end of the neck 69. The sleeve is positioned in the opening or discharge port 74 in the threaded neck 69 with a tight frictional fit to prevent removal therefrom. The threaded neck of this embodiment of tube is formed of a generally rigiclplastic, and the cap and plunger are formed of a generally rigid plastic. The sleeve 71 is formed of a suitable flexible plastic material and includes the opposed slots 75 and the motion limiting lug or projection 76. This sleeve 71 will also receive the cap 53 and plunger 54 to function in the same manner as the previous embodiments.

T he threaded neck and depending cylindrical sleeve obviously could be integrally molded onto a fully plastic collapsible tube, or the cylindrical sleeve adapter could be utilized with a commercially available plastic tube.

Having disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A closure for a collapsible tube comprising an externally threaded neck aflixed to the collapsible tube and a cap mounted for limited reciprocation toward and away from said neck, said cap and neck threadingly engaging to seal the :tube, said neck including a slotted depending cylindrical sleeve, and said cap including a depending plunger mounted for limited longitudinal movement in said sleeve, said plunger having a closed lower end and an elongated slot adapted to be aligned with a slot in the depending sleeve for the passage and dispensing of a lim ited quantity of the contents of the tube, the upper end of the slot in the plunger being exposed above the threaded neck when the cap is disengaged from the neck and the cap and its plunger withdrawn.

2. A closure for a collapsible tube as set forth in claim 1, including cooperating means in said depending sleeve and said depending plunger to limit relative longitudinal movement of said cap and plunger in the neck of the tube.

3. A closure for a collapsible tube as set forth in claim 1, in which said depending sleeve is provided with diametrically opposed slots extending [from the open lower end of the sleeve to adjacent the threaded neck, and the slot in said depending plunger extends longitudinally and opens along one side of the plunger.

4. A closure for a collapsible tube as set forth in claim 1, in which said plunger is mounted for rotation and reciprocation in the sleeve of the tube, and interconnecting means in said plunger and sleeve for limiting longitudinal movement of said plunger in said sleeve,

5. A closure for a collapsible tube comprising an externally threaded neck secured to a collapsible tube, a cap mounted for limited reciprocable movement relative to said neck, said neck and cap threadingly engaging to seal the collapsible tube, said threaded neck having a central cylindrical portion depending into the tube and defining a central open passage through said neck, said cylindrical portion having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots, said cap having a central depending plunger conformably received Within the central passage in the neck, said plunger having an elongated longitudinally extending slot opening in one side of the plunger with its slot having its lower end terminating short of the lower end of the plunger and its upper end spaced from the upper end of the plunger, cooperating means on said cylindrical portion and said plunger to limit re ciprocation of the plunger within the threaded neck.

6. A closure for a collapsible tube as set forth in claim 5, in which said means includes a projection formed on the interior surface of said cylindrical portion and said plunger having a pair of diametrically opposed notches adjacent the lower end thereof, one of which will receive said projection.

7. A closure for a collapsible tube as set forth in claim 6, in which said elongated slot in the plunger is of a length to provide an exposed portion of the slot above the threaded neck when the projection engages a notch on the plunger.

8. A closure for a collapsible tube as set forth in claim 6, in which the width of the slot in the plunger and the width of the projection are substantially the same so that the projection can be received in the slot to guide reciprocable movement of the cap and the plunger.

9. A closure for a collapsible tube as set forth in claim 6, in which said projection is aligned with one of said notches when the slot in the plunger is aligned with one of the slots in the cylindrical portion to dispense material from the tube.

10. A closure for a collapsible tube comprising an externally threaded neck on said tube, an internally threaded cap mounted for limited longitudinal movement relative to said neck, said neck and cap threadingly engaging to seal the collapsible tube with said threaded neck including an integral central depending cylindrical sleeve defining a central passage through said neck, said sleeve having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots, said cap including an integral central depending plunger conformably received within the central passage in the neck, said plunger having an elongated longitudinally extending slot opening in one side of the plunger, said slot having its lower end terminating short of the lower end of the plunger and its upper end spaced from the upper end of the plunger, and means on said cylindrical sleeve and said plunger cooperating to limit reciprocation of the plunger within the threaded neck.

11. A closure for a collapsible tube having an annular flange defining a central opening in the tube, comprising an externally threaded neck molded onto said annular flange and an internally threaded cap mounted for limited longitudinal movement in said neck, said cap and neck threadingly engaging to seal the collapsible tube with said threaded neck including a tapered body portion formed on the exterior of'said flange and a central depending cylindrical portion at the interior of said flange, ar-cuate shoulders formed on. the exterior of said cylindrical portion and engaging the interior of the collapsible tube, said cylindrical portion having a central passage extending axially through the threaded neck and a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots, a projection on the interior surface of said cylindrical portion, said cap including a depending central plunger conformably received within said central passage, said plunger having an elongated longitudinally extending slot with the lower end terminating short of the lower end of the plunger and the upper end of the slot spaced from the junction of the cap and plunger, said slot opening in one side of the plunger and of substantially the same width as the width of the projection on the interior surface of the cylindrical portion, and said plunger having a pair of diametrically opposed notches adjacent its lower end for receiving the last mentioned projection.

12. A closure for a collapsible tube having a rolled edge at one end defining an opening for the tube, comprising an externally threaded neck and an internally threaded cap mounted for limited longitudinal movement relative to the neck, said cap and neck threadingly engaging to seal the collapsible tube, said threaded neck including a tapered body portion terminating at its lower end in a radially outward knurled flange engaged by the rolled edge of the collapsible tube, a central depending cylindrical portion on the threaded neck extending into the tube,

said cylindrical portion having a central passage extending axially through the threaded neck and a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots, a projection on the interior surface of said cylindrical portion, said cap including a depending central plunger conformably received within said central passage, said plunger having an elongated longitudinally extending slot with the lower end terminating short of the lower end of the plunger and the upper end of the slot spaced from the junction of the cap and plunger, said slot opening in one side of the plunger and of substantially the same width as the width of the projection on the interior surface of the cylindrical portion, and said plunger having a pair of diametrically opposed notches adjacent the lower end of the plunger for receiving the last mentioned projection.

13. A closure assembly for a conventional collapsible tube having an externally threaded neck with a central passage and an internally threaded cap, comprising a cylindrical sleeve having a central passage therethrough frictionally held in the central passage in the threaded neck, a radially outwardly extending flange on the upper end of the sleeve abutting the upper edge of the threaded neck, a projection on the interior surface of the sleeve, said sleeve having a pair of diametrically opposed elongated longitudinal slots removed from said projection, and a plunger having an enlarged head adapted to be snapped into and frictionally retained in the internally threaded cap for the tube, said plunger having an elongated longitudinally extending slot therein and a closed lower end, said plunger being conformably received in said sleeve and having a pair of diametrically opposed notches adjacent the lower end cooperating with said projection to limit movement of the cap and plunger.

14. A closure assembly as set forth in claim 13, in which said elongated slot extends diametrically partially across the plunger and opens laterally through one Wall thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,177,335 10/1939 Ruetz 222-5l9 2,805,800 9/ 1957 Malick et al. 2225 19 2,841,314 7/1958 Munson et a1. 222-519 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

S. H. TOLLBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE FOR A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE COMPRISING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED NECK AFFIXED TO THE COLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND A CAP MOUNTED FOR LIMITED RECIPROCATION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID NECK, SAID CAP AND NECK THREADINGLY ENGAGING TO SEAL THE TUBE, SAID NECK INCLUDING A SLOTTED DEPENDING CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE, AND SAID CAP INCLUDING A DEPENDING PLUNGER MOUNTED FOR LIMITED LONGITUCINAL MOVEMENT IN SAID SLEEVE, SAID PLUNGER HAVING A CLOSED LOWER END AND 